Toy system cooperating with Computer

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a toy system for downloading digital contents via the internet and processing the downloaded digital contents through real time cooperation between a computer and a toy. The computer comprises a recording medium which stores digital contents and a digital contents driving program. The toy comprises a microprocessor, a communication port, a digital sound decoder, a speaker, a motor driving unit, a motor, an LED/lighting device and an LED/lighting device control unit. The digital contents comprise image data, first and second sound data and motion control data. The digital contents driving program processes the following steps: reading the digital contents; displaying the image data of the digital contents on a screen of the computer; outputting the second sound data of the digital contents to a speaker of the computer; and transmitting the first sound data and the motion control data of the digital contents as a packet form to the toy connected with the computer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a toy for executingdigital contents, and more particularly to a toy system for downloadingthe digital contents via the internet to a computer and processing thedownloaded digital contents in the computer and a toy connected to thecomputer interactively.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] As the internet has developed lately, a number of digitalcontents providers have come to provide various digital contents. Thedigital contents include, for example, MP3 music files. For executingthese digital contents, a digital contents driving program can beprocessed in a computer or a digital contents player.

[0005] Therefore, when a user has the digital contents driving programor the digital contents player, he/she can be provided with new digitalcontents through access to a digital contents provider's server andexecute the contents in the computer or the digital contents player.

[0006] Meanwhile, motor driven toys such as robots, vehicles and thelike are currently on the market, which can move by using motorsinstalled therein or output sound by using memories and speakersinstalled therein. These kinds of toys of the related art have smallmemory capacity and cannot be upgraded. So, they execute or output verysimple motions or sounds, thereby boring children after a short time.Also, a long-term educational benefit cannot be expected from thesetoys.

[0007] In order to solve the foregoing problems, it has been proposed toapply internet technologies to the toys. An example of such proposals isdisclosed in Korean Patent Application laid-open No. 1999-0027814, whichrelates to an apparatus for controlling motion of a toy. Moreparticularly, the apparatus can control a motor driving unit to performvarious motions according to a program which is transmitted from acomputer after being composed therein.

[0008] However, according to the above-identified application, thedigital contents downloaded from the computer are stored in a storageunit in the toy, and the toy is operated independently from thecomputer. Therefore, the toy is required to further comprise at least acertain capacity of memory, and the size of the downloaded digitalcontents are restricted according to memory capacity installed in thetoy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Accordingly, the present invention solves the foregoing problemsof the related art. Therefore, it is an object of the invention toprovide a toy system which comprises a computer and a toy connected tothe computer. The computer of the toy system accesses the server of adigital contents provider and downloads digital contents to a memory ofthe computer. When the digital contents are executed in the computer,the screen of the computer cooperates with the motion and sound of thetoy on a real time base.

[0010] It is another objection of the invention to provide a toy systemwhich enables the cooperation between a toy and a computer whiletransmitting motion control data or sound data from the computer to thetoy without downloading digital contents to the toy, so that the toywith a small memory capacity can drive digital contents of which thesize is larger than the toy's memory.

[0011] It is further another object of the invention to provide a toywhich can automatically upgrade a motion code table therein withoutreplacement of parts of the toy or the toy itself, thereby performingvarious motions in response to the digital contents.

[0012] It is other object of the invention to provide a controllingapparatus and method for motorization which controls the motion of themouth of a toy or a robot according to amplitude of a sound signal thatis outputted to the mouth, thereby enabling the mouth to be moved verynaturally.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the invention to achieve theforegoing objects, a toy system is provided a computer with a recordmedium in which digital contents and a digital contents driving programare stored; and a toy interfaced with the computer.

[0014] The digital contents are stored in the memory of the computer andcomprise image data, sound data and motion control data.

[0015] The digital contents driving program processes the steps ofreading the digital contents, displaying the image data of the digitalcontents on a screen of the computer and transmitting the sound data andthe motion control data of the digital contents as a packet form to thetoy.

[0016] The toy is comprised of a communication port for providing aninterface with the computer; a microprocessor for decoding a data packetreceived via the communication port, outputting sound data and a motioncontrol signal, and controlling operations of the toy; memory forstoring a program and a motion code table required for the operation ofthe microprocessor; a decoder for decoding the sound data from themicroprocessor to output a sound signal; a motor driving unit fordriving a motor in response to the motion control signal from themicroprocessor; a motor installed in each part of the toy; and a speakerfor outputting the sound signal.

[0017] According to the invention, the toy receives the control data andthe sound data necessary for the operation thereof from the computer,decodes and outputs the received data in real time so that the motionand sound output of the toy is synchronized with the display image onthe computer screen.

[0018] Preferably, the toy has a motion code table in the memory, inwhich the motion code table comprises character ID, motion code tableversion, motion codes and motor control data corresponding to eachmotion code. The digital contents driving program further processes thesteps of: comparing the version of the motion code table of the toy withthat of a motion code table stored in the computer; and if the versionof the motion code table of the toy is lower than that of the computer,downloading the motion code table stored in the computer to the memoryof the toy.

[0019] The toy can also comprise a robot and a stage unit; the robot hasmotor and an EEPROM where the motion control table is written, and therobot is detachable from the stage unit.

[0020] The digital contents can also comprise a sound data pool, thesound data pool being composed of sound data IDs, and sound data andmotion control data corresponding to each sound data ID. Also, thedigital contents driving program obtains the sound data and the motioncontrol data corresponding to the sound data ID and transmits the sounddata and the motion control data to the toy.

[0021] Also, the toy transmits an event signal to the digital contentsdriving program when the input unit of the toy receives an externalinput. The digital contents driving program processes an operationcorresponding to the event signal which informs of start, stop andoperation from the user control buttons installed in the toy, or informsif the robot is detached.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the invention to achieve theforegoing objects, the present invention is provided with a method ofcontrolling a motor by using a sound signal, the method comprising thesteps of: (a) amplifying the sound signal; (b) clearing high frequencysignal of the amplified sound signal to detect an envelope of the soundsignal; and (c) using the envelope as the reference signal forcontrolling the motor.

[0023] Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of convertingan analog signal corresponding to the envelope of the sound signal intoa digital signal, and using the converted digital signal as thereference input signal for controlling the motor.

[0024] The motor controlling method of the invention is applied tocontrol the motor driving the mouth of a speaking robot or toy, and thesound signal is preferably a sound signal outputted via a speakerinstalled in the robot or toy.

[0025] The control data for operating the toy and the sound data forreciting a fairy tale are transmitted in real time instead of beingdownloaded from a computer, so that the toy does not require a largecapacity of memory for storing the whole digital contents. Also, themotion, sound output and lighting control of the toy can be synchronizedin real time with image and sound output of the computer.

[0026] It is to be understood that the foregoing general description ofthe present invention is exemplary and explanatory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide afurther understanding of the invention and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of theinvention and together with the description serve to explain theprinciple of the invention.

[0028]FIG. 1 is a block diagram generally showing a computer and a toysystem which cooperates with the computer according to the presentinvention;

[0029]FIG. 2A shows a configuration of digital contents according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 2B shows a configuration of digital contents according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention;

[0031]FIG. 2C shows a configuration of a sound data pool of the digitalcontents according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a digital contents drivingprogram of the invention;

[0033]FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the digitalcontents driving program according to the present invention;

[0034]FIG. 5A through 5D show configurations of packets including sounddata, motion control data, LED control data and lighting control data;

[0035]FIG. 6 shows a download control program in a digital contentsdriving program according to the invention;

[0036]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a toy system according to theinvention;

[0037]FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the operation of amicroprocessor;

[0038]FIG. 9A is a flow chart showing a sequential process of amicroprocessor;

[0039]FIG. 9B is a flow chart showing an interrupt handling routine ofthe microprocessor shown in FIG. 9A;

[0040]FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of a motor control unit adopted in atoy according to the invention; and

[0041]FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the operation of the motor controlunit shown in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Hereinafter, a detailed description will be provided about theconfiguration and operation of digital contents, digital contentsexecution program and a toy system in reference with the accompanyingdrawings. 5 First, FIG. 1 is a system block diagram generally showing atoy system according to the invention. A description will be providedabout the configuration and operation of the first embodiment about thetoy system according to the invention with reference to FIG. 1.

[0043] The toy system of the invention is comprised of a computer havingdigital contents and a digital contents driving program, and a toyconnected with the computer using by either 1 wire or wirelessinterface. The toy is a movable device having motors.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 2A, the digital contents of the first embodimentcomprise image data 210, first sound data 216, second sound data 212,motion control data 214, LED/lighting control data 218. Here, each dataneed not be written in uniform order.

[0045] A user accesses a server of a digital contents provider via theinternet and downloads such digital contents. Here, an updated newmotion code table corresponding to a character ID of a robot isdownloaded together.

[0046]FIG. 2B shows digital contents according to the second embodimentof the invention. The digital contents include a sound data pool and asound data ID as well as image data, second sound data, motion controldata and LED/lighting control data.

[0047] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2C, the sound data pool includessound data IDs, and first sound data, motion control data andLED/lighting control data corresponding to each sound data ID. Here, thefirst sound data, the motion control data and the LED/lighting controldata corresponding to one sound data ID are signals necessary foroperating simultaneously in the toy. In other words, the sound data poolis provided in a certain area of the digital contents, and the sounddata ID functioning as a key word of the sound data pool is used in thedigital contents to allow size reduction of the digital contents.

[0048] Again, the user can access the server of the digital contentsprovider via the internet and download such digital contents togetherwith the motion code table corresponding to the character ID of therobot. The downloaded digital contents and the motion code tables arestored in a memory of the computer. The motion code table is downloadedto the memory in the toy by the digital contents driving program.

[0049] The image data and the second sound data are respectivelyoutputted to a monitor and a speaker of the computer when the digitalcontents are executed. The first sound data, the motion control data andthe LED/lighting control data are transmitted to the toy from thecomputer after being packeted therein. A detailed description about eachof these data will be provided later in the specification.

[0050] If the data of the read digital contents is sound data ID, thefirst sound data, the motion control data and the LED/lighting controldata corresponding to the sound data ID are read from the sound datapool and transmitted to the toy from the computer after being packetedtherein. Further comprising the sound data pool, the digital contentscan be reduced in size.

[0051] Meanwhile, the digital contents can further include datacorresponding to encryption codes for preventing any illegal copythereof.

[0052]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the function of a drivingprogram 300 for reading and executing the digital contents stored in thememory of the computer, and FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operationof the digital contents driving program.

[0053] First, a description about a configuration of the driving programin reference to FIG. 3 will be provided.

[0054] The driving program comprises a digital contents reader 310 forreading the digital contents from the memory, a PC screen display unit320 and a PC speaker output unit 322 for outputting data of the digitalcontents to a screen and a speaker according to data types,respectively, a data packet transmitting unit 324, a download controlunit 330 and an input signal processing unit 340.

[0055] Upon receiving an event or a request signal from the toy to thecomputer, the input signal processing unit 340 processes the eventcorresponding to the input signal by using an interrupt handlingroutine. The type and substance of the event will be described later.

[0056] The operation of the download control unit 330 will also bedescribed later.

[0057] Hereinafter, a description will be provided about the operationof the digital contents driving program in reference to FIG. 4.

[0058] First, the digital contents are read and loaded in step 410, andthe digital contents are analyzed in step 420.

[0059] Then, if the data of the digital contents are image data in step430, the image data are displayed on the screen of the computer in step432. If the data of the digital contents are the second sound data instep 440, the second sound data are outputted to the speaker installedin the computer in step 442.

[0060] In sequence, if the data of the digital contents are one of thefirst sound data, the motion control data and the LED/lighting controldata in step 450, the data are transmitted to the toy that is interfacedwith the computer after packeting the data in step 452. Then, if thedigital contents are terminated, the operation of the digital contentsdriving program is ended. If not, it returns to the step 420.

[0061]FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D show configurations of the data packet formedby the digital contents driving program.

[0062]FIG. 5A is a packet of motion control data, and is composed of acommunication header and the motion control data. The motion controldata represent data codes in the motion code table previously set aboutdesired operations and written in the memory of the toy.

[0063]FIG. 5B is a packet of lighting control data which is composed ofa communication header, a start RGB value, a termination RGB value, afixed time and the number of repetition. The lighting device varies fromthe start RGB value to the termination RGB value as often as the numberof repetition in the fixed time.

[0064]FIG. 5C is a packet of LED control signal which is composed of acommunication header, the number of repetition, LED ON/OFF, time, . . ., LED ON/OFF, time. Each LED ON/OFF, which is composed of a length ofbits, is turned on when its data is 1, and off when its data is 0. EachLED is turned on/off in the fixed time as often as the number ofrepetition, matched to a relative time from the point of receiving acommand.

[0065]FIG. 5D is a packet of the first sound data and is composed of thefirst sound data, time, a control command, . . . , time and anothercontrol command. While the first sound data are decoded and processed,the packet is synchronized and the control commands are executed so asto cause the robot to speak and move. Here, the control commands aredata required for controlling the motion of the robot and the lightingas soon as the first sound data are outputted.

[0066]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the downloadcontrol unit.

[0067] First, the digital contents driving program requests thecharacter ID of the toy and a version information of the motion codetable written in the memory of the toy in step 600, and receives thecharacter ID and the version information from the toy in step 610.

[0068] Then, the driving program compares the character ID and themotion code table version received from the toy with the character IDand the motion code table version which are downloaded from the internetand stored in the computer in step 620.

[0069] If the character IDs are the same and the motion code table ofthe toy has lower version than that of the computer in step 630, thedriving program transmits a download start code to the toy in step 640.Then, upon receiving a ready-for-receiving code from the toy in step650, the driving program downloads the motion code table correspondingto the character ID to the memory installed in the toy in step 660 andin step 670, and then terminates.

[0070] Hereinafter, the configuration and the operation of the toy inreference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 10 are described.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 7, the toy comprises a communication port 710, amicroprocessor 720, a digital sound decoder 750, a speaker 754, anenvelope detector 756, an A/D converter 758, a motor driving unit 760,motor 762, an LED/lighting device driving unit 770, an LED or a lightingdevice 772, an input unit 740 and memories 730 and 732.

[0072] Here, the toy is comprised of a stage unit and a robot, in whichthe robot is preferably detachable from the stage unit. In thisconfiguration, the robot can be replaced with a new robot character atany time. Also, the motion code table is varied according to thecharacter type of the robot, and can be replaced together with therobot.

[0073] The stage unit includes the communication port, themicroprocessor for controlling the entire operations of the toy, thememories, the digital sound decoder, the motor driving unit, theLED/lighting device driving unit, the LED/lighting device and the inputunit.

[0074] The communication port 710 enables the wire or wireless interfaceof the toy with the computer.

[0075] The microprocessor 720 controls the entire operations of the toy,and as shown in FIG. 8, comprises a communication processor 820, apacket decoder unit 830, an input processing unit 810, a motor controlunit 840, a sound data processing unit 850 and an LED/lighting devicecontrol unit 860. Hereinafter, a detailed description is provided aboutthe operation of each component of the microprocessor.

[0076] After a data stream received from the communication port issuccessfully stored, upon completion of receiving the packet, thecommunication processor 820 outputs the received packet to a packetdecoder unit 830 which will be described later, or transmits the datareceived from the input processing unit 810 to the computer.

[0077] The packet decoder unit 830 decodes the packet from thecommunication processor, and transmits the packet to the sound dataprocessing unit if the packet is the first sound data, to the motorcontrol unit if it is motion control data, and to the LED/lightingcontrol unit if it is LED/lighting control data.

[0078] When an internal event or an external event from the input unittakes place, the input processing unit 810 transmits a signalcorresponding to each event via the communication processor to thecomputer. Here, the internal event includes a signal for informing ifthe sound to the speaker of the toy and the motion of the toy aresynchronized, and another signal for informing if the robot isdetached/attached from/to the stage unit. The event from the input unitis a signal inputted from user control buttons installed in the toy or asignal for informing of the start, stop, forward and backward of thecontents, start of the contents reader, and the like.

[0079] The motor control unit 840, after reading position data and timeduration data of the motors corresponding to the motion control datafrom the packet decoder in the motion code table, obtains a motioncontrol signal from the position and time duration data, and outputs themotion control signal to the motor driving unit.

[0080] The voice data processing unit 850 outputs the sound data fromthe packet decoder to the digital sound decoder.

[0081] The LED/lighting control unit 860 obtains an LED/lighting controlsignal from the LED/light control data outputted from the packetdecoder, and then outputs the control signal to the LED/lighting devicedriving unit.

[0082] The operation and the speaking motion of the toy are controlledin response to input signals from the microprocessor to the toy.

[0083] Then, the memories store programs and data required for theoperation of the microprocessor. Preferably, the first memory stores theprogram and data required for the operation of the microprocessor, andthe second memory stores the motion code table. More preferably, thesecond memory is an EEPROM which is an electrically erasableprogrammable ROM.

[0084] The digital sound decoder 750 decodes and amplifies the soundsignal from the microprocessor 720 by using the sound amplifier 752 andoutputs the amplified sound signal to the speaker 754.

[0085] Meanwhile, the envelope detector 756 detects an envelope of asound signal from the digital sound decoder 750, and the A/D converter758 converts an analog signal of the envelope into a digital signal. Theconverted sound signal is used as the reference input signal to controlthe motor 762 for moving the mouth of the robot.

[0086] The motor driving unit 760 drives the motor 762 in response tothe motion control signal from the microprocessor 720.

[0087] The LED/lighting device driving unit 770 controls the operationof the LED or the lighting device 772 in response to the LED/lightingcontrol signal produced from the microprocessor 720. The LED/lightingcontrol signal expresses brightness, color and the like of the LED orthe lighting device 772.

[0088] The input unit 740 is the user control buttons, and when anexternal input takes place, interrupts the microprocessor to inform theexternal input.

[0089] The robot comprises a plurality of motors, speakers and memories.

[0090] The motion code table is composed of the character ID of the toy,version of the motion code table, the motion codes and control data ofthe motor respectively corresponding to the motion codes. The controldata include at least position data and time duration data.

[0091] Upon receiving the motion control data packet from the computer,the toy obtains the motion code from the motion control data packet, andcalls the motor control data corresponding to the motion code from themotion code table with the motion codes as a key word. Motors in therobot are controlled by using the motor control data.

[0092] If the motion code table has a version lower than that of themotion code table stored in the cooperating computer, a new version ofmotion code table is downloaded to the second memory of the robot fromthe computer. Therefore, the motion code table can be newly upgradedwithout replacing the existing robot or the toy.

[0093] The speaker 754 outputs the sound signal transmitted from thecomputer.

[0094] The motor 762 is mounted to portions of the robot allowing limbsof the robot to move. Also, the motor is operated in response to themotion control signal which the microprocessor produced by using themotor control data from the motion code table.

[0095] One of the motors connected with the mouth of the robot uses anadditional motor control unit as shown in FIG. 10 to be controlled bythe sound signal. The motor control unit comprises an amplifier 1000 foramplifying an input signal, a diode 1010 and a low-pass filter 1020.More preferably, the motor control unit further comprises an A/Dconverter as shown in FIG. 7.

[0096]FIG. 9A is a flow chart showing a sequential process of themicroprocessor, and FIG. 9B is a flow chart showing a process which isinterrupted at a certain time interval in the microprocessor.

[0097] Referring to FIG. 9A, when a new packet is received in step 910,the received packet is decoded in step 960 to inspect data of thepacket. Here, if the received packet is the sound data packet in step962, the packet is stored in step 964. If the received packet is themotion control data packet in step 970, a motion mode is set in step972. If the received packet is the LED/lighting control data packet instep 980, a LED/lighting mode is set in step 982.

[0098] If a new data packet is not received in step 910, it is checkedwhether the buffer of the sound decoder is full in step 920. If thebuffer of the sound decoder is not full, it is checked whether datastream receipt is ended in step 930. If the data stream is not ended, itis checked whether restoration of the received sound data packet isterminated in step 940. If restoration is not terminated, the sound dataare outputted in step 950. If terminated, transmission of the nextpacket is requested in step 940. Then, the process returns to step 910.

[0099]FIG. 9B is an interrupt handling routine carried out at a certaintime interval separately from the sequential process routine of themicroprocessor. For control of the LED and the lighting device, thisroutine should be executed with constant time intervals and is processedas an interrupt routine. For example, after setting the routine so thata timer interrupt takes place at an interval of every 25 ms, A/Dconversion is started in the timer interrupt. An A/D converted signalmay include an output of the envelope detector or a position signal ofeach motor. When A/D conversion is ended, an A/D conversion-completeinterrupt takes place and the routines of motor control, LED control andlighting control are sequentially processed as shown in FIG. 9B.Therefore, motor control, LED flashing and lighting device control canbe executed at exact time interval of 25 ms.

[0100] Further, the microprocessor of the toy uses an external interruptroutine also when an input takes place from a switch or an externalinput unit. Therefore, when any button of the switch is pushed, themicroprocessor of the toy is interrupted so that the microprocessorreads a switch state and transmits a state value of the switch to thecomputer through the communication processor.

[0101] The microprocessor executes the interrupt routine whenever dataare received from the computer. To be more specific, the datatransmitted from the computer are received in the microprocessor via acommunication port, in which a receipt interrupt takes place wheneverone bite is received. When the receipt interrupt takes place, themicroprocessor maintains storing the received data in the previouslyreserved buffer, and when the last byte of the packet is received, setsa flag informing of the receipt of the last byte. Then, in the flowchart of FIG. 9A, the microprocessor can confirm if a new data packet isreceived by inspecting the flag. When packet decoding is terminated, themicroprocessor should reset the packet flag as “0” again.

[0102] Hereinafter, a detailed description will be provided about themotor control unit for moving the mouth of the robot in reference toFIG. 11.

[0103] First, in step 1100, the motor control unit amplifies the soundsignal decoded with the first sound data, which are transmitted from thecomputer to the toy in a packet form, in which the amplifier preferablyemploys a differential amplifier. When the sound signal is lower than0.7 volt, the diode in the rear of the amplifier outputs “0” voltagemaking envelope detection impossible.

[0104] Then, the sound signal from the amplifier passes the diode toclean a negative component from the sound signal in step 1110. Theoutput signal passes the low-pass filter comprised of a capacitor and aresistance to clear a high frequency signal of the sound signal anddetect an envelope of the sound signal in step 1120.

[0105] Then in step 1130, an analog signal corresponding to the detectedenvelope is converted into a digital signal by using the A/D converter,and the converted signal is used as the reference input signal forcontrolling the motor in step 1140.

[0106] The foregoing motor control unit can be used to control the motorconnected to the mouth of the robot or the toy. The motor control unitemploys the sound signal outputted to the speaker of the robot or thetoy so that the degree of moving the mouth can be varied according tothe amplitude of the sound signal. As a result, the mouth shape of therobot or the toy is varied according to sound output so that thespeaking motion of the robot or the toy can appear more natural.

[0107] According to the toy system as described above, the digitalcontents driving program is executed in the PC to activate multimediaoutput such as sound, image and animation of the digital contents, andthe toy cooperates with the multimedia in real time to move the limbs ofthe toy while, for example, reciting a fairy tale, thereby stimulatingthe interest of a person watching the toy.

[0108] Therefore, the toy system of the invention can be applied to arobot system which recites a fairy tale in an interesting manner, inwhich the computer screen displays characters and backgrounds of thefairy tale and robot recites corresponding to the display image of thecomputer screen with various motions and stage lighting effect, therebyallowing the fairy tale to be much more amusing.

[0109] Also, the invention can be applied to a language educationalsystem. The computer screen displays images or captions of foreignlanguage and the toy speaks corresponding to the caption data displayedon the computer screen so that children or beginners can have aninteresting language study while watching the toy.

[0110] The toy system of the invention allows the toy to receive thedata from the computer in real time and output the same so that themotion and the sound output of the toy can cooperate with the computerscreen.

[0111] The robot of the toy is detachable from the stage unit of the toyand the motion code table is written in the memory installed in therobot thereby enabling substitution to a new robot at any time. Also,the memory for the motion code table employs EEPROM which iselectrically rewritable so that a new version of the motion code tablecan be downloaded from the computer to update the motion code table ofthe robot new version. Therefore, the motion code table written in thememory of the robot can be upgraded without any additional hardwarereplacement.

[0112] Also, the sound output signal is used to control the motor fordriving the mouth of the toy so that more natural motion of the mouthcan be achieved when reciting a fairy tale.

What is claimed is:
 1. A toy system comprising: a computer with arecording medium in which digital contents and a digital contentsdriving program are stored; and a movable device interfaced with saidcomputer; wherein said digital contents are stored in said recordingmedium of said computer, and comprise image data, sound data and motioncontrol data; wherein said digital contents driving program processesthe following steps of: (a) reading said digital contents; (b)displaying the image data of said digital contents on a screen of saidcomputer; and (c) transmitting the sound data and the motion controldata of said digital contents as a packet form to said movable deviceconnected with said computer; wherein said movable device comprises: acommunication port for providing an interface with said computer; amicroprocessor for decoding a data packet received via saidcommunication port, outputting sound data and a motion control signal,and controlling operations of said movable device; a memory for storinga program and a motion code table required for the operation of saidmicroprocessor; a decoder for decoding the sound data from saidmicroprocessor to output a sound signal; a motor driving unit fordriving a motor in response to the motion control signal from saidmicroprocessor; and a motor installed in each part of said movabledevice; and wherein the image data is displayed on said computer screenand said movable device decodes the data packet transmitted from saidcomputer to output the sound data to said digital sound decoder and themotion control signal to the motor driving unit when said digitalcontents driving program is processed in said computer, whereby themotion and sound output of said movable device are synchronized with thescreen output of said computer.
 2. A toy system according to claim 1,wherein said motion code table comprises a character ID and a motioncode table version, motion codes and motor control data corresponding toeach motion codes, and wherein said digital contents driving programfurther processes the steps of: comparing version of said motion codetable of the movable device with a motion code table stored in saidcomputer; and if said motion code table of said movable device has alower version than said motion code table stored in said computer,downloading said motion code table stored in said computer to saidmemory of said movable device.
 3. A toy system according to claim 2,wherein said motor control data is composed of position data and timeduration data.
 4. A toy system according to claim 1, wherein saidmovable device comprises a robot and a stage unit, said robot havingmotor and being detachable from said stage unit.
 5. A toy systemaccording to claim 4, wherein said motion code table is stored in anelectrically rewritable memory installed in said robot.
 6. A toy systemaccording to claim 4, wherein said memory includes first and secondmemories, said first memory storing a program necessary for theoperation of said microprocessor of said movable device and beinginstalled in said stage unit, said second memory storing said motioncode table and being installed in said robot.
 7. A toy system accordingto claim 6, wherein said second memory is electrically rewritable.
 8. Atoy system according to claim 1, wherein said digital contents furthercomprise a sound data pool, said sound data pool being composed of sounddata IDs, and sound data and motion control data corresponding to eachsound data ID; and wherein said digital contents driving program obtainsthe sound data and the motion control data corresponding to the sounddata ID from said sound data pool and transmits the sound data and themotion control data to said movable device.
 9. A toy system according toclaim 1, wherein said movable device further comprises an input unit forinputting an external signal, said microprocessor of said movable devicetransmitting an event signal to said digital contents driving programwhen said input unit receives an external input, said digital contentsdriving program executing an operation corresponding to the eventsignal.
 10. A toy system according to claim 9, wherein said input unithas user control buttons for instructing start, stop, forward andbackward, said event signal informing of the start, stop forward andbackward from said user control buttons installed in said movabledevice.
 11. A toy system according to claim 3, wherein said movabledevice further comprises an input unit for inputting an external signal,said microprocessor of said movable device transmitting an event signalto said digital contents driving program when said input unit receivesan external input, said digital contents driving program executing anoperation corresponding to the event signal, said input unit having usercontrol buttons for instructing start, stop, forward and backward, saidevent signal informing of the start, stop, forward and backward fromsaid user control buttons installed in said movable device, or informingif said robot is detached.
 12. A toy system according to claim 1,wherein said digital contents comprise additional sound data, saiddigital contents driving program outputting said additional sound dataof said digital contents to a speaker installed in said computer.
 13. Atoy system according to claim 1, wherein said microprocessor of saidmovable device detects an envelope from a waveform of the sound datatransmitted via said communication port, and uses the envelope as anelectric reference signal to control a motor connected to the mouth ofsaid movable device.
 14. A toy system according to claim 1, wherein saidmicroprocessor comprises: a communication processor for successivelystoring a data stream received from said communication port, and thenupon completion of receiving the packet, outputting the received packetto a packet decoder unit or transmitting data received from an inputprocessing unit to said computer; a packet decoder unit for decoding thepacket from said communication processor, and then transmitting thedecoded packet to a motor control unit or a sound data processing unit;an input processing unit for transmitting a signal corresponding to eachevent of an input unit to said communication processor when the inputunit is inputted; a motor control unit for using motion control datafrom said packet decoder unit to read position and time data of motorscorresponding to the motion code from the motion code table, obtain themotion control signal from said position and time data, and output themotion control signal to said motor driving unit; and a sound dataprocessing unit for outputting the sound data from said packet decoderunit to said digital sound decoder.
 15. A toy system according to claim1, wherein said digital contents are downloaded together with the motioncode table corresponding to a character ID of said digital contents froma server of a digital contents provider via the internet.
 16. A toysystem according to claim 15, wherein said digital contents drivingprogram further performs the steps of: (a) receiving the character IDand the motion code table version of said movable device from saidmovable device; (b) comparing the character ID and the motion code tableversion stored in said computer with the character ID and the motioncode table version received from said movable device; (c) if thecharacter IDs are not the same, stopping the downloading; and (d) if thecharacter IDs are the same and the motion code table version of saidmovable device is lower than the motion code table version stored insaid computer, downloading the motion code table in said computer tosaid memory in said movable device.
 17. A toy system according to claim1, wherein said digital contents further comprise LED/lighting controldata, said digital contents driving program forming the LED/lightingcontrol data into a packet to transmit the packeted data to said movabledevice; and wherein said movable device further comprises an LED or alighting device, and controls said LED or said lighting device accordingto the LED/lighting control data from said digital contents drivingprogram.
 18. A toy system according to claim 17, wherein saidmicroprocessor comprises: a communication processor for successivelystoring a data stream received from said communication port, and thenupon completion of receiving the packet, outputting the received packetto a packet decoder unit or transmitting data received from an inputprocessing unit toward said computer; a packet decoder unit for decodingthe packet from said communication processor, and then transmitting thedecoded packet to a motor control unit, a sound data processing unit oran LED/lighting control unit; an input processing unit for transmittinga signal corresponding to each event of an input unit to saidcommunication processor when the input unit is inputted; a motor controlunit for using motion control data from said packet decoder unit to readposition and time data of motors corresponding to motion code from themotion code table, obtain the motion control signal from said positionand time data, and output the motion control signal to said motordriving unit; a sound data processing unit for outputting the sound datafrom said packet decoder unit to said digital sound decoder; and anLED/lighting control unit for obtaining an LED/lighting control signalfrom LED/lighting control data outputted from said packet decoder, andoutputting said LED/lighting control signal to an LED/lighting drivingunit.